To examine inter-spouse transmission as one of the potential
routes of infection for hepatitis C virus (HCV), 121 patients with
HCV- related chronic liver disease who tested positive for
antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) and their spouses were studied.

Of these, 21 (17.4%) patients had spouses with anti-HCV. In 12
couples, the HCV genotype matched (type II: 10 couples, type LII:
two couples). The genotype differed in six couples. One patient was
positive for anti-HCV, but negative for HCV-RNA, while the spouse
was positive for both. The remaining two couples were only positive
for anti-HCV. Genetic heterogeneity in the hypervariable region I
of HCV was analysed in II couples with matched genotypes. In two
couples, no mutation was recognized in the putative E2/NS1 genes
using the heteroduplex method. The present study provides evidence
to verify household transmission of HCV between patients and their
spouses.

These results suggest that inter-spouse transmission may be a
potential route of transmission of HCV infection. However, other
environmental factors (e.g. the duration of the marriage) cannot be
ignored.